Spathiphyllum plant named ‘Spaamerigro’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Spathiphyllum plant named ‘Spaamerigro’, characterized by its upright, outwardly arching and uniform plant habit; freely clumping growth habit; bushy and dense plants; glossy dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; large white-colored spathes that are positioned just above and in between the foliar plane on strong and erect scapes; and good inflorescence longevity.

Botanical designation: Spathiphyllum Schott.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SPAAMERIGRO’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofSpathiphyllum plant, botanically known as Spathiphyllum Schott. andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Spaamerigro’.

The new Spathiphyllum plant is a product of a controlled breedingprogram conducted by the Inventor in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands. Theobjective of the breeding program is to create new year-round floweringSpathiphyllum plants that have glossy dark green-colored leaves, largewhite-colored spathes and good postproduction longevity.

The new Spathiphyllum plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor in September, 2012 of a proprietary selection ofSpathiphyllum Schott. identified as code number 20121408-01, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofSpathiphyllum Schott. identified as code number 20092518-39, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Spathiphyllum plantwas discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands in October, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Spathiphyllum plant by in vitro meristemculture in a controlled environment in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands sinceOctober, 2013 has shown that the unique features of this newSpathiphyllum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Spathiphyllum have not been observed under allpossible combinations of environmental conditions and culturalpractices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Spaamerigro’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Spaamerigro’ as a new and distinctSpathiphyllum plant:

-   -   1. Upright, outwardly arching and uniform plant habit.    -   2. Freely clumping growth habit; bushy and dense plants.    -   3. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Large white-colored spathes that are positioned just above        and in between the foliar plane on strong and erect scapes.    -   6. Good inflorescence longevity.

Plants of the new Spathiphyllum differ from plants of the female parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Spathiphyllum are larger than plants of the        female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Spathiphyllum have larger inflorescences        than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Spathiphyllum differ from plants of the male parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Spathiphyllum are darker green in        color than leaves of plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Spathiphyllum are more durable        than leaves of plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Spathiphyllum can also be compared to plants ofSpathiphyllum Schott. ‘Sparanke’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.21,294. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Spathiphyllumdiffer from plants of ‘Sparanke’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Spathiphyllum are denser and bushier than        plants of ‘Sparanke’.    -   2. Leaf margins of plants of the new Spathiphyllum are slightly        undulate whereas leaf margins of plants of ‘Sparanke’ are not        undulate.    -   3. Scapes of plants of the new Spathiphyllum are shorter than        scapes of plants of ‘Sparanke’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Spathiphyllum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Spathiphyllum plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of atypical plant of ‘Spaamerigro’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typicalinflorescence of ‘Spaamerigro’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the spring in 14-cm containersin a glass-covered greenhouse in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands and undercultural practices typical of commercial Spathiphyllum production.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 22° C.to 28° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 22° C. and lightlevels averaged 5 klux. Plants were 18 weeks old when the photographsand the detailed description were taken. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Spathiphyllum Schott. ‘Spaamerigro’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Spathiphyllum Schott. identified as code number 20121408-01,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Spathiphyllum Schott. identified as code number 20092518-39,            not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By in vitro meristem culture.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About twelve days at            temperatures about 23° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 13 days at            temperatures about 23° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 215 days            at temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 240 days            at temperatures about 21° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately branching, medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and outwardly arching plant            habit; overall plant shape, broadly inverted triangle;            moderately vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate.        -   Clumping habit.—Freely clumping habit, bushy and dense            growth habit; about twelve clumps develop per plant.        -   Plant height, from soil level to top of leaf plane.—About            42.2 cm.        -   Plant height, from soil level to top of            inflorescences.—About 63 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 61.2 cm.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:            About 29.7 cm. Width: About 13 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex:            Apiculate. Base: Short attenuate. Margin: Entire; slightly            undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous; glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth,            glabrous; moderately glossy. Venation pattern: Pinnate.            Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: More intense than            143A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to between            138B and 146B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close            to NN137A; venation, close to 137A to 137B. Fully expanded            leaves, lower surface: Close to 137B; venation, close to            144A. Petioles: Length (excluding geniculum): About 20.2 cm.            Diameter, just below geniculum: About 4 mm. Diameter, at            plant base: About 1.2 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture and            luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly            glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly more            yellow green than NN137A. Geniculum length: About 2.7 cm.            Geniculum diameter: About 4.5 mm. Geniculum texture and            luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly            glossy. Geniculum color, upper surface: Close to 137B.            Geniculum color, lower surface: Close to 137B; at the leaf            base, close to 143C. Wing length: About 19.4 cm to 20.7 cm.            Wing diameter: About 1 cm. Wing color: Close to 144B;            towards the margins, close to between 144C and 144D; fading            towards the petiole to close to 143A.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence arrangement and flowering habit.—Moderately to            strongly cupped erect spathes with columnar spadices held            above and in between the foliar plane on strong and erect            scapes; flowering structures arise from leaf axils; plants            begin flowering about 16 weeks after planting; freely and            continuous flowering year-round under greenhouse conditions            in The Netherlands; freely flowering habit, typically about            13 inflorescences develop per plant.        -   Fragrance.—Moderately fragrant; fragrance, sweet and            pleasant.        -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences last more than three            weeks on the plant; inflorescences persistent.        -   Spathe.—Length: About 16.2 cm. Width: About 6 cm. Depth:            About 3.7 cm. Shape: Ovate to elliptic. Apex: Apiculate;            twisting and curled. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; very            slightly and coarsely undulate. Texture and luster, front            surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly leathery; slightly            glossy. Texture and luster, rear surface: Smooth, glabrous;            slightly leathery; moderately glossy. Color: When            developing, front surface: Close to 155B; fading towards the            apex to close to 157D; apex, close to 144B. When developing,            rear surface: Close to NN155A; towards the apex and main            vein, close to 144A to 144B. Fully developed, front surface:            Close to NN155A; towards the apex, close to 143A to 143B;            with development, color becoming closer to 145A to 145B.            Fully developed, rear surface: Close to between NN155A and            NN155B; towards the apex and main vein, close to 143A to            143B; with development, color becoming closer to 145A to            145B.        -   Spadix.—Length: About 4.9 cm. Diameter: About 1.4 cm. Shape:            Columnar, tapering towards the apex; apex, obtuse; base,            obtuse; cross-section, rounded. Aspect: Close to erect,            about 5° from scape axis. Color, immature: Close to 157D.            Color, mature: Close to between 155A and 157D. Flowers:            Quantity per spadix: Numerous, about 140. Shape: Rounded.            Height: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Anther color:            Close to NN155B to NN155C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen            color: Close to 155B. Stigma color: Close to 158D. Ovary            color: Close to 158D.        -   Scapes.—Length: About 48.9 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Texture and luster: Smooth,            glabrous; moderately glossy. Color: Close to 143A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have            not been observed on plants of the new Spathiphyllum.-   Disease & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Spathiphyllum    have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens or pests common    to Spathiphyllum plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Spathiphyllum have been    observed to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to    about 40° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 13.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Spathiphyllum plant named‘Spaamerigro’ as illustrated and described.